Coil spring producing machine



y 27, 1953 w. E. WUNDERLICH 2,836,205

COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 50, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 1, 30L 4 2e 13/ 5 30 i I 0 ac c9 h :05 III [I] F l [1| ,Zz'wm, z mjvmrzw May 27, 1958 w. E. wuNDTzRUcl-i 2,836,205

COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 30, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1 w. E. WUNDERLICH 2,836,205

COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sam}. 30, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 M y 7, 1 w. E. WUNDERLICH 2,836,205

con SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. so, 1946 9 Shets-Sheet 4 May 27, 1958 w. E. WUNDERLICH COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. so, 1946 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 27, 1958 W. E. WUNDERLICH COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. so, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 fag/1 12 May 27, 1958 w. E. WUNDERLICH 2,835,205

coIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 30, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 v May 27, 1958 w. E. WUNDERLICH v COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 30, 1946 9 Sheet-Sheet 8 MM %W7 May 1958 w. E. WUNDERLICH 2,836,205

COIL SPRING PRODUCING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 0, 1946 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Fatented May 2?, 1958 COIL SPRING PRGDUCIN G IVLACI'HNEL William E. Wunderlich, Mnncie, Ind, assignor to Wunderlich Spring Machinery Company, a corporation of Illinois Original application September 39, 1945, erial No. 700,197, now Patent No. 2,664,202, dated July 22, 1952. Divided and this application June 12, 1952, Serial No. 293,109

1 Claim. (Cl. 140-101) This invention relates to machines for producing coil springs and more particularly to such machines having a coiling mechanism for coiling the springs, a knotting and/or crimping mechanism for knotting and/ or crimping one or both ends of the coil spring, a stacking mech anism for stacking the completed coil springs and a transfer mechanism for transferring coil springs successively from the coiling mechanism, to the knotting and/ or crimping mechanism to the stacking mechanism.

This application is a division of my copending parent application Ser. No. 700,197, filed September 30, 1946, now Patent No. 2,604,202 granted July 22, 1952, the construction of the transfer mechanism being claimed in said parent application.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved knotting and/or crimping mechanism which is simple in construction and operation. In this respect, the knotting mechanism may include a slotted knotter gear carried by a cam-operated pivoted carriage for pivotally moving the slotted knotter gear into and out of knotting position. It may also include a die for receiving the end of the coil spring and slides for clamping the coil spring to the die and the knotter gear may wrap the end of the wire about the next convolution of the coil spring while it is so clamped. The die and the slides may be provided with crimping surfaces for crimping or offsetting the outer convolutions of the coil spring. Also, according to my invention, a pivoted stop finger may be provided for engaging and moving the end of the wire of the coil spring applied to the die by the transfer mechanism before it is clamped to predetermine the rotative position of the coil spring. This insures that the proper amount of wire is utilized for knotting and that the end of the wire is located in a predetermined position with respect to the completed coil spring and that the oifset or crimped portions of the coil spring are properly located. Further, the knotting and/or crimping mechanism may be angularly adjusted about an axis corresponding to the axis of the coil spring presented to it so that knotting and/or crimping is carried out at the right places on the coil spring.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the component parts of the machine and the cooperation between such parts.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claim and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the coil spring producing machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine looking from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a coil spring produced by the machine;

Fig. 4 is a, diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the moving parts of the coil spring producing machine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of the coiling mechanism which regulate the diameter and pitch of the coil spring coiled thereby;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a coil spring coiled by the coiling mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the transfer mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the transfer mechanism shown in the upper right-hand por tion of Fig. 7 showing the gripping jaws closed;

Fig. ll is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the gripping jaws open;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing the radial arm pivoted out of the plane of rotation;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 13-43 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged end elevational view of the knotting and crimping mechanism with the parts in the position when the coil spring is received therein;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing the parts in position during the knotting operation;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged perspective View of the knotter assembly;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal sectional view of the knotter and crimping mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the stacking mechanism;

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the stacking mechanism with the parts in position for receiving a coil spring;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 but showing the parts in position for stacking the coil springs; and

Fig. 21 is an end elevational view looking from the left in Fig. 18.

The coil spring producing machine is generally shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and includes a wire supplying mechanism generally designated at 1! a coiling mechanism generally designated at 11 for coiling the springs, a transfer mechanism generally designated at 12 for transferring coil springs, a knotting and crimping mechanism generaliy designate at 13 for knotting and crimping one end of the coil spring, a knotting and crimping mechanism generally designated at 14 for knotting and crimping the other end or the coil spring, and a stacking mechanism generally designated at 15 for stacking the completed coil springs.

Generally speaking, the coiling mechanism 11 coils the wire into a coil spring into the form shown in Fig. 6. This coil spring is then gripped by the transfer mechanism 12 and carried into alignment with the knotting and crimping mechanism 13 and brought into engagement therewith. ()ne end of the coil spring is then knotted and crimped. The transfer mechanism 12 then carries the coil spring into alignment with the second knotting and crimping mechanism 14 and into engagement therewith for knotting and crimping the other end of the coil spring. The coil spring thus knotted and crimped at both ends may take the form illustrated in Fig. 3. The transfer mechanism 12. then takes the completed coil spring to the stacking mechanism generally designated at 15 whereupon the completed coil spring is released from the transfer mechanism and is stacked by the stacking mechanism.

The transfer mechanism 312 includes a plurality of radial gripping arms so that all operations of coiling, knotting and crimping, and stacking may be carried on simultaneously on a plurality of coil springs. Normally the radial gripping arms are maintained in their plane of rotation, but when the gripping arms are brought into alignment with the knotting and crimping mechanisms 13 and 14, the radial arms are pivoted out of the plane of carriedby a shaft rotates. thev roller rotation-so as to insert the coil springs into the knotting and crimping mechanisms, 1

Wire 17 drawn from a roll of wire, not shown, passes through spring biased guides 18 ofthewire supplying.

mechanism It? and then through a wire straightener 19.

' The wire 17 is drawn through the straightener 19 and fed 3 to'the coiling mechanism by rollers 29, 21, 22 and 2 forming a part of the coiling mechanism.

iliizg mechanism The coiling mechanism includes a frame 25 carried on a post 26 which, in turn, is suitably securedto a base 27.. A motor 29, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, is carried by the. base 217 and drives a belt 39 coursing a pulley 33 carried by a shaft 32. As shown in Fig. .,the shaft 32 carries a pinion 33 meshingwith a gear Eddarried by shaft 35 for rotating the roller 21; ,A gear 36 carrier by, a shaft 37 and meshing. with the gear .34 rotates the rollers. V I I V A gear 4 4 carried on'the shaft 37 meshes with a gear i ca'rried on a sleeve 46. An adjustable two-part cam sna ed. 9 e s e 4 O ate a cam fo e f fi carried by a lever 49 pivoted at 59, The lever 49 is connected by a link to a yoke 53 which operates to raise and lower the rollers 22 and 23. When the rollers 22 and 23. are lowered, the wire 17' is fed to the coiling mochariisin, but when these r ollers are raised, the feed of the wire is stopped. The raising and lowering of the rollers ZZand 23am hence the feeding of the wire is intermittent and is in timed relation with respect to the other parts of the machine.

The wire 17 fed by the rollers passes between stationary rollers carried by abracket se and engages a bending roller 55 carried by a crank arm 56. The wire 17' passing between the stationary rollers and the movable bending roller 55 is bent and formed into convolutions. Adjacent the bending mechanism is a pitch controller mechanism having a stationary block 57 and a laterally movable block 58. The lateral position of the block 58 determines the pitch of the convolutions of thcfcoil being formed. After the coil has been formed, it is guided byja guide' 59-carried by a lever 6t) pivoted on a stationary pivot 65. The lever. 66 is provided with a follower 61 which is operated by a cam 62. The cam 62-operates to raise and lower the guide 59. An anvil 63 is provided immediately adjacent the coiling mechanism, and the coil being wound passes adjacent the anvil. .A knife 64 is laterally moved into engagement with the anvil 63 for severing the wire after the coil is coiled.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the crank arm 56 carrying the bending roller 55 is carried by a shaft 66 to which is secured an arm 67 carrying an adjustable extension 68; The adjustable extension 655 carries a screw 69 engaginga groove in a l ver 7'3 pivoted at 71 and provided witha cam follower 72. The'cam follower 72 is operated by, a cam 73 carried by a shaft 74 which, in turn, is providedwith a gear 75 meshing with a gear 7 6 on thesleeve 46. Asthe sleeve 46 rotates; the cam 73 is caused to rotate to impart an oscillating motion to the lever 7i andto ,thec'rank 56. The crank arm 56 is therefore moved by the cam 73 to position the bending roller 55 to regulate 1 the diameter of theconvolntions ofthecoil spring being coiled; By adjusting the screw 69, the diameter of the cdnvolutions may be varied, and by longitudinally sliding extension 63'and hence the screw'69, with respect to the 7 4 79 carried by a shaft 80. which is provided with an extension 82 the end of which carries a screw 83; The screw 83 abuts in a slot in a lever 84 pivoted at 85, and the lever 84 is provided at its extremity with a cam follower 86 engaging an adjustable cam having component parts 87 and 88. The adjustable cam is carried by a shaft 89 which also carries a be'vel gear 94) meshing with a bevel gear 91 carried by a shaft 92. The shaft 92 also carries a gear 93 meshing. with the gear "2'6 mounted on the sleeve '46. As the sleeve 46 rotates, the adjustable'cam 87, 8S oscillates the lever 84, the cranlt arm 79 and the block 58. Theblock 58 engages} the wire of the spring being coiledQadjacent the, coiling apparatus. to provide a lead or pitch'to the convolutions,

lateral movement of the block 58 in the above'manner, regulates the pitch or lead. By adjusting the .screw j 33, the pitch of the convolutions may be varied, and by sliding the extension 82 and hence the screw 83 Wi h' respect to'the lever 84, the ratio of" the pitches of the 7 various eonvol-utionsmaybe varied. By-relatively'ad; justing-the component parts; 87, 88 of the adjustableearn; the pattern of the pitch or lead of the'convolutions ofthe coil spring may be varied. Obviously, a three or'fojur' part cam could be utilized for more complicated patterns;

The coil spring which is; thus coiled and has its pitch,

pattern and diameters regulated in the above fashion;

is indicated at 94 in Fig. 6. When the coil is'completely" wound a camsurface 64! on thegear 45 moves the cutter or knife 64 to the right to. sever the wound coil spring from the wire. 17, and the cam 47, raisesthe rollers 22 and 23to stop the wire feed; The. shaft: 92 carries the. cam 62 for raising and lowering the guide 59. The guide 59 is utilized-for guiding and locating. the coil spring after it is coiled and when itais: tobe gripped by thegripping arm of the transfer mechanism.

Transfer mechanism' The sf me hanism en rally esi nated; a .12.- i

Shown in deta nE- ss. 7 to 13. ending-a ran ment;

of the moving parts thereof; is shown schematicallyinfig. 4. The transfer mechanism 1; includesa-rotatable car: rier 95, shown as octagonalin configuration, -car ried.by

a sleeve 96. On the outer octagonal surfaces pf t-hecar; rier 95 blocks 97'are secured in placebyscrewsg 105. r

The junctures between the carrier 95 andthe blocks' 97 are provided with holes forrotatably receiving cylindrioal extensions 99 of yokes98. Keyed tothe extensions 99 are brackets 100, and theparts are heldgassembledforj rotation in the carrier 95 by screws; 101. Thebrackets; y

lsliliare provided with extensions 10.2. for receiving. one

end of compression springs 103, the otherendsof which J engage blocks 194 carried-by the blocks 97 on the. car- I blocks 104, and by adjusting 'the'screws 106, theradial rier 95. The compression springs 103, therefore, operate,

to tilt the brackets 100 and .theassociated yokes. 28in a.

clockwise direction, as illustrated in'Fig'. 8 The extent of the clockwise movement of the yokes98 is limited by screws 196. provided with lock nuts 107 carried by the positions oftthe yokes 98 and the gripping arms carried thereby may be adjusted. The springs: 103 also permit. movement of the yokes 98 and the gripping arms carriedthereby in the plane of rotation thereof, as is illustrated n the left-hand portion of Fig. 8'. This provides strain:

release connections between the carrier 95 and' the radialgripping arms carried thereby.

Sleeve supports109 are pivotally carried by the yokes 98 through pivot pins llfi, and the sleeves- -are'prpvidgd' with extensions 111 carrying rollers 11; which are-he'ld in place-by screws 113. The rollers 112 control the: pivotal positions of'the sleeve supportsf109andretain the sleeve supports in the plane of rotation, as illu strated iiiFig. 10, or pivot themout of the plane .of'rotation,

as illustrated in Fig. 12. The sleeve supports.109 support rods 115, this being accomplished by spacers 1'16 and clamping screws 117 and nuts 118.

Plungers 120 are reciprocally carried in the. sleeve- The shaft 80 carries a crank 81 essence supports 169 and are provided with internal bores for receiving the rods 115. The plungers are provided with extensions 121 which carry blocks 122. The lower ends 123 of the plungers 120 are bifurcated to receive cam followers 124 carried by pivot pins 125. The cam followers 124 are moved by a cam 126 keyed to a sleeve 127. The cam surface of the high-dwell of the cam 126 is arcuate in cross section, as illustrated in Figs. and 12, so that regardless of whether the gripping arms are in or out of the plane of rotation, the plungers 120 are not moved with respect to the sleeve supports 109.

The upper ends of the rods 115 are provided with screw thread extensions 130 for receiving gripping jaws 131. Movable gripping jaws 132 are pivoted at 133 to the gripping jaws 131 and are provided with extensions having a bifurcation 134 for receiving headed pins 135 carried by sleeves 136. Springs 137 are interposed between the blocks 122 and the sleeves 136 for urging the sleeves 136 outwardly against the stationary jaws 131 when the block 122 is raised, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The sleeves 136 are provided with projections 138 and the sleeve supports 109 are provided with projections 139, and tension springs 140 are carried by the projections. When the blocks 122 are raised, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the compression springs 137 force the sleeves 136 outwardly, which in turn, causes the movable jaws 132 to move toward the stationary jaws 131 to clamp coil springs therebetween. When, however, the blocks 122 are lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the springs 137 no longer urge the sleeves 136 upwardly and the sleeves 136 are pulled downwardly by the tension springs 146. This downward movement of the sleeves 136 causes the headed pins 135 to move the movable jaws 132 away from the stationary jaws 131 to release the coil springs which had previously been gripped thereby. The upward and downward movement of the blocks 122 is caused by reciprocation of the plungers 120, which, in turn, are reciprocated by the cam 126. In other words, when the high-dwell of the cam 126 is operating on the plungers 129, the gripping jaws are closed, and when the low-dwell of the earn 126 is operating on the plungers 12%, the gripping jaws are open, as is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively.

A box cam 142, 143 cooperates with the rollers 112 carried by the sleeve supports 109 for maintaining the gripping :arms in the plane of rotation or for pivoting them out of the plane of rotation. The cam part 143 is secured to the cam part 142 by brackets 144'and the cam part 142 is keyed to an extension 145 of a shaft 147, the cam part 142 being held in place on the shaft 147 by a nut 146. The cam part 143 is provided with a recess 143, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and the cam part 142 is provided with a complementary projection 149. The depression 148 and projection 149 cause the rollers 112 to move the gripping arms out of the plane of rotation toward the left, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The normal position of the depression 143 and projection 149 corresponds to the position of the knotting and crimping mechanism 13 so that the gripping arm is pivoted out of the plane of rotation to insert the coil spring carried by the associated gripping arm into engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanism 13. The cam part 142 is provided with a depression 150 and the cam part 143 is provided with a projection 151 for pivoting the gripping arm out of the plane of rotation in the opposite direction. The position of the depression 150 and the projection 151 corresponds to the location of the knotting and crimping mechanism 14 so that the coil springs, as they are brought in line with the knotting and crimping mechanism 14 by the transfer mechanism 12, are moved into engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanism.

At station A, the cam parts 142 and 143 may be provided with adjustable cams 330 and 331, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 10, slidably mounted in I grooves in the cam parts and held in adjusted position by screws 332. By adjustably positioning the cams 330 and 331, the radial gripping arms may be correctly positioned for gripping 6 the desired convolution of the coil spring which has been coiled by the coiling mechanism. Of course, similar cams may also be provided at the other stations if so desired.

The transfer mechanism thus far described is carried by a frame 152 supported on the column 26 and is provided with journals 153 and 154 for rotatably supporting the sleeves 96 and 127 and the shaft 147. A Geneva gear 155 is keyed to the sleeve 96 and is provided with locking surfaces 156 and operating surfaces 157. An actuator 158 having a locking surface 159 and an actuating roller 161i carried by a pin 161 is secured to a Shaft 162 carried in journals 163 and 164. As the shaft 162 is rotated, the actuator 158 alternately locks the Geneva gear and rot-ates the same. Thus an intermittent rotation applied to the Geneva gear 155 and hence to the carrier 93 of the transfer mechanism.

A crank arm 166 is keyed to sleeve 127 and is provided with a cam follower 167 operated by a cam 16S carried by the shaft 162. Thus as the shaft 162 is rotated, the cam 168 imparts an oscillatory movement to the crank arm 166 and hence the cam 126 which controls the plungers 120. v

A crank arm 170 is keyed to the shaft 147 and is provided with a cam follower 171 operated by a cam 172 secured to the shaft 162. As the shaft 162 is rotated, an oscillatory movement is given to the crank arm 170 and hence to the cam parts 142, 143. The shaft 162 is driven by a sprocket wheel173. The shaft 162 is also provided with a crank arm 174 which is connected by a pin 175 to a link 176 which extends rearwardly to operate the stacking mechanism 15.

The sprocket wheel 173 is connected by a chain 178 to a sprocket wheel 179 mounted on a shaft which, in turn, carries another sprocket wheel 181 which is connected by a chain 132 to a sprocket wheel 183 carried by the shaft 92. Thus the motion of the transfer mechanism 12 .is obtained from the coiling mechanism 11 so that the transfer mechanism is operated in timed relation with the coiling mechanism.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, station A is in line with the coiling mechanism 11, station B is in line with the knotting and crimping mechanism 13, station C is in line with the knotting and crimping mechanism 14, and station D is in line with the stacking mechanism 15. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 8, the coil spring has been wound by the coiling mechanism 11 and has been gripped by the gripping arm at station A, and the completed coil has been released by the gripping arm to the stacking mechanism at station D. The coil carried by the gripping arm at station E is in engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanism 13, and the coil carried by the gripping arm at station C is in engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanism 14. All of the operations having been completed, it is now necessary to move the radial gripping arms in a clockwise direction for one-eighth of a turn, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

First, the cam parts 142 and 143 are moved in a counterclockwise direction so that the gripping arms at stations B and C are moved into the plane of rotation, then the carrier 95 and the cam 126 are moved in a clockwise direction for one-eighth of a turn, and when this latter motion is being accomplished, the cam parts 142 and 143 are returned to the position shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the gripping arms that are moved into stations B and C are pivoted out of the plane of rotation into engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanisms 13 and 1.4, respectively. Since the cam 126 has rotated along with the carrier 95 for one-eighth of a turn, the gripp' arm which is moved to station A has its jaws open and the gripping arm which has moved to station D has its jaws closed. A new coil is then formed by the coiling mechanism, and the coils which are in engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanisms 13 and 14 are knotted and crimped thereby. The gripping arm 7 at-station llis 'still holding the coilin the 'stacking mechanism; When a new coil is coiled by the coiling mecha: nism at station A and the coiling operation'has been completed, then the cam 126 is rotated one-eighth of a revolution in a counterclockwise direction back to the position shown in Fig. 8 whereupon the coil at station A radial gripping arm carrying that spring will be pivoted about' its pivot 39 against the action'of the spring 103 upon indexing of the carriage'95, whereupon the gripping jaws of that radial gripping arm will release the coil spring and permit indexing of the carriage without dam:

age to the machine. During the pivoting movement of the radial gripping arm, the follower 124 rides forwardly on the cam 126 sufiiciently to release the gripping jaws Knottirzg and crimping mechanisms The knotting and crimping mechanism '13 is illustrated in more detail .in Figs. 14 to 17 and the moving parts thereof are schematically illustrated in'Fig. 4. The

knotting and crimping mechanism 13 includes'asubstantially cylindrical head 185 carriedkby a support 186 i providcd' with a column 187 carried by a frame 188 secured to the-base 27. The cylindricalhead 185 is held in'place on the support by a strap 189which may be'tightened by nuts 190. The cylindrical head 185 is therefore rigidly secured to the support 186 but may be rotated about its central axis for adjustment purposes.

. The cylindrical head 185 may be provided with end partitions 191 and 193 and a central partition 192. V

A die 195. is suitably secured to the end partition 191 adjacent the center thereof and .is adapted to receive the end of a coil spring applied thereto by the'transfer mechanism to'be knotted and/or'crimped. .The die is provided with an annular'shoulderwhich is engaged by the "end turn'of the coil spring applied thereto. The die'may be circular in configuration if only knotting is tobe accomplished, but if crimping is also to be'accomplished, it

7 may be provided with protrusions, 196, 197 and 198. A

slide .199 provided with a recess 20!) corresponding to the protrusion .196 is utilized for clamping the end of the coil spring .to the die 195 for gripping the same. The slide 1% :is providedwith'ashoulder 291 engaged by a bell crank lever292'pivoted at 2tl3to'the head 185. The bellcrank lever 292 is provided with a cam follower .204 which is movedby an oscillating cam 205 to advance the slide 199 mm the slidemay heretracted by a spring, not shown. Aipair of slides 2516 and 207 opposed to the slide 19 9' arealso utilized for clamping the end of. the coil spring to the die 195 and the slides 206 and 207 may be provided with recesses 2G3 and .269 cooperating with the protrusions 1&7 and 19.3 on the die 195 to provide a double crimpin the end of the coil spring. The slides 206 and 207 are moved toward the die 195 by crank arms 210 and 211 respectively and preferably the slides in their advancing movement are moved sequentially to provide first and second crimping actions;

The slides 20.6 and 297 may be returned by springs 212 and 213 respectively. The slide 207 carries an extension .207

A pivoted movable stop or gauge finger 215 abuts=and 1 moves the'end of the wire of the coil spring for determinv 7 Such sequen- 'tialjmovement is effective in drawing the wire into the crimped form without breaking the wire.

, ing the proper rotativeposition of the coil'spring applied to the .die by fthe transfer mechanism and "hence the amount of wire utilized in the'knotting operation and the pr operflocation of the er'imps or offsets. In thisway,

the end of' the wire following the knotting operation is brought to a predetermined position within the confines of the coil spring-"The' stop or gauge. finger 215 i'scarried by acrank arm 216carried on-ashaft 217 and is held in retracted position by a' spring 218; Set screws 219 adjrzst the gauge 215 with respect to the crank arm 217 to set the position of the gauge. -When the coil spring is ell) ' the lever 226. and the guide 220.

appliedby the transfer mechanism to the die and before the slides arcfmoved to clamping position, the stopor I gauge 'fingcri215 is advanced from its retracted position to ,cngagethe end of the'wire of the coil spring to move the same-to itspropergrotative position on the die 'so that proper knotting is broughtabout. The set screws .219 provide adjusting meansforthestop or gauge finger 215 to adjust'the advanced position thereof;

A movable .clarnp orgguide 220 iscarried by a pivot pin .221 and isprovided with a .portionspaced outwardly from the shoulder of the die and operates to retain the coil spring in proper position on the shoulder of the die 195 during theiknotting and crimping operation. The guide 220 isoperated through a pin 222 carried by a link 223 provided with a slot- 224 recciving'a pin '22'5carried by a crank arm 226 mountedon a shaft 227. The pin 4 225 also carries a spring pressed lever 228160 engage the guide 220 and a pivoted lever 229 is interposed between 7 With the'parts in the position shown in'Fig. 14, the'guide or clamp '220Iisre-1 tracted. 1 As the crank arm 226 ismoved to the left'fromj the position shown in Fig. 14,' it first acts throughlever';

229 to move the guide 220 about its pivot and the'n fu'n their. acts through the spring pressed lever 228 to'com:

plete the movement of the guide 220 to the position shown. 7 in Fig. 15 wherein the coil spring is clampedto the shou'l tier of the die 195. When'the crank arm 2.26 is moved in the opposite direction, the guide is retracted by the link 223 to permit removal of the coil spring.

The knotting structure, more clearly shown in Fig.7

16, includes a knotting gear 230 provided with :a slot 231, the gear being carried by extensions 232 on a pivoted carrier 234. The extensions 232 also include slots. for

receiving the wire of the coil spring, and as the knotting gear 230 is rotated, the end of the wire of the coil spring is wrapped round the next adjacent convolution in the I The'die is provided with an opening 238 for receiving the knotting apparatus.

A gear 240 secured to the. shaft 235 is utilized for rotating'the knotter gear 230, and the gear 240 is rotated by a gear 241 also secured to the shaft 235. A

segmental gear 242 carried by a shaft 243 intermittently meshes with the gear 241 to cause intermittent rotation of the knotter gear230. The shaft 235 is provided with a detent cam 244 receiving a projection 245 carried by a lever 246 pivoted at 247. A spring 248 forces the lever 246 downwardly, and when the projection 249 is received in the detent in the cam 244, the parts are resiliently locked in position to maintain the. slot 231 of the knotter gear 230 in anvupright position. When, however, the gear segment242 meshes with'the I gear 241 torotate the. slotted knotter gear 230, this is permitted by the cam 24.4 overcoming the action of the spring 248.

. A cam 250 carried .by the shaft 243 operates against a. cam follower 251 carried by the pivoted carriage 234 so that the knotter gear 230 is brought upwardly .into operative position just prior to the time that the segmental gear 242 meshes with the gear 241 to rotate the knotter gear 230. When the knotter gear 230 has rotated the required number of revelutions and the segmental gear 242 disengages the gear 241, the cam 250 then permits the knotter gear 230 to be lowered from the operative position. The shaft 243 is connected by bevel gears 253 and 254 to a shaft 255 on which is keyed a gear 256. A gear 257 meshes with the gear 256 and is keyed to a shaft 258 which carries a sprocket wheel 259. The sprocket wheel 259 is connected by a chain 260 to a sprocket wheel 261 carried by a shaft 262 which, in turn, carries a gear 263 meshing with a gear 264 carried by the shaft 180. Thus the parts of the knotting and crimping mechanism 13 are driven from the transfer mechanism 12 and the coiling mechanism 11 and therefore operate in timed relation therewith.

The shaft 243 adjustably carries a cam 266 which moves a cam follower 267 carried on a lever 268 pivoted at 269. The lever 268 is provided with an extension 270 for oscillating a cam 271 mounted on the shaft 217. Thus, as the shaft 243 is rotated, the lever 268 and the cam 271 are oscillated to transmit an oscillatory movement to the stop or gauge 215. By adjusting the cam 266, the timing of the movement of the gauge 215 may be adjusted.

The oscillating cam 205 which operates the slide 199 is keyed to a shaft 273 having a crank arm 274 and a cam follower 275. The cam follower is operated by a cam 276 keyed to the shaft 258. The cam 276 positively oscillates the crank arm 274 and hence the cam 205 in both directions to move the slide 199.

The shaft 227 operating the crank 226 carries a crank arm 278 provided with a cam follower 279 engaging a cam 280 secured to the shaft 255 so that as the shaft 255 is rotated, the crank arm 278 and hence the crank arm 226 are oscillated.

The crank arm 210 for operating the slide 206 is keyed to a shaft 282 and the crank arm 211 for operating the slide 207 is formed on a sleeve 283. The shaft 282 is provided with a crank arm 284 having a cam follower 285 engaging a earn 286 carried by the shaft 258. In a like manner, the sleeve 283 carries a crank arm 287 provided with a cam follower 288 engaging a cam 289 also carried by the shaft 258. Thus rotation of the shaft 258 imparts oscillatory movement to the crank arms 210 and 211 for sequentially moving the slides 206 and 207.

When a coil spring is inserted over the die 195, it is first held in place on the die 195 by the advancing guide 220, then it is located in its proper rotative position by the advancing stop or gauge 215, then the slide 199 is moved inwardly and the slides 206 and 207 are sequentially moved inwardly to clamp the coil spring to the die 195 and to crimp the ends of the coil spring. Thereupon the slotted knotter gear 230 is pivoted to the operative position and the end of the wire of the coil spring is wrapped around or knotted to the next adjacent convolution. During the knotting operation, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 15, and when the knotting operation is completed, the parts are returned to the position shown in Fig. 14, the knotted coil removed and a new coil to be knotted inserted. It will be noted that when the knotted coil spring is removed from the die 195, it is removed therefrom laterally by reason of the gripping arm of the transfer mechanism being returned to the plane of rotation of the transfer mechanism before the transfer mechanism is rotated.

The knotting and crimping mechanism 14 is in all respects the same as the knotting and crimping mechanism 13 with the exception that the parts thereof are reversed and, therefore, a complete description of the knotting and crimping mechanism 14 is not required.

The knotting mechanism 14 includes a cylindrical head 295 carried on a support 296 which, in turn, is carried by a column 297 mounted on a frame 298 carried by a base 27. A strap 299 is utilized for securing the head 295 to the support 296 and, at the same time, permitting rotative adjustment of the cyiindrical knotter head about its axis. Power is supplied to the knotting and crimping mechanism 14 by a sprocket wheel 300, a chain 301, and a sprocket wheel 302. The sprocket wheel 300 is carried by a shaft 303 which is connected by a universal joint 304 and a shaft 305 which is connected by a universal joint 306 to the shaft 180. Thus, the movable parts of the knotting and crimping mechanism 14 receive their motion from the transfer mechanism 12 and the coiling mechanism 11 so that the parts are moved in timed relation with respect thereto.

When the transfer mechanism 12 aligns a coil spring with the knotting and crimping mechanism 14, the coil spring is moved into engagement therewith and is gauged, guided, clamped, crimped and knotted in the same manner as described in connection with the knotting and crimping mechanism 13.

The completed coil spring, knotted and crimped at both ends thereof, is illustrated at 94 in Fig. 3. If desired, the crimping operations may be omitted so that the offset portions at the ends of the coil springs would not be present. This may be accomplished by omitting the protrusions 196, 197 and 198 from the die and the corresponding recesses 200, 208 and 209 and providing in lieu thereof simple curve surfaces which would be utilized for clamping purposes only. Alternatively, crimping action may be employed and the knotting operation omitted so that the ends of the coil spring would be offset but not wrapped or knotted. This could be accomplished by omitting the slotted knotter gear 230 and its associated parts.

Stacking mechanism The stacking mechanism 15 is shown in more detail in Figs. 18 to 21. The stacking mechanism includes a base plate 310 and side walls 311 provided with longitudinal slots 312. The forward end of the stacking mechanism is provided with internal plates 313 provided with a longitudinal slot 314 therebetween, the distance between the plates 313 being less than that between the plates 311. Depending from the plates 313 are diverging guards 315 so that when a coil spring is carried upwardly by the transfer mechanism 12 into the stacking mechanism 15, the coil spring is compressed somewhat by the diverging guards 315 and is held between the plates 313. A yoke formed by a crossbar 316 and side arms 317 is reciprocated through a screw 318 by the link 176. The side arms 317 of the yoke carry bars 319 operating in the slot 312. The forward end of the bars 319 are provided with internal projections 320 extending through the slots 314 which carry actuators 321 having a concave actuating face for engaging the ends of the coil spring between the plates 313. The bars 319 adjacent the yoke are provided with internal fingers 322 for advancing coil springs along the stacker.

When the transfer mechanism 12 inserts a coil spring between the plates 313 and releases the coil spring therebetween, the yoke is moved rearwardly by the link 176 and the actuator 321 carries the coil spring rearwardly from between the plates 313 where they are allowed to expand against the plates 311. The yoke then moves forwardly carrying with it the actuator 321 for the reception of another spring. At the same time, the internal fingers 322 move forwardly for engaging the coil spring which hasbeen moved rearwardly by the actuator 321. On the next rearward motion of the yoke, the fingers 322 carry the coil spring rearwardly and stack and nest that spring with the next adjacent spring and also make room for the reception spring and also make room for the reception of the next coil spring from between the plates 313. In this'way, the stacking mechanism 15 receives coil springs from the transfer mechanism adjusted for ease and accuracy of operation.

ii -and stacks and nests the springs for shipment "or" assembly. 7

Summary of operations In snmmarizing briefly the operations of the complete machine, the formation and passage of asingle coil' through the machine will be considered. The wire fed to" the coiling mechanism is coiled thereby and the diameters of the convolutions of the coil spring and the pitch or lead thereof and the pattern thereof may be adjusted to the desired values. After the coil spring is thus Wound, it is severed from the Wire and is then gripped by a gripping arm of the transfer mechanism'il. The ,gripping arm-then carries the coil forwardly .into alignment With the knotting and crimpingmechanism 13 and the gripping armfis pivoted .out of the plane of rotation and one end of the .coil spring is brought into engagement with the knotting and crimping mechanism 13. The coil spring is then guided and located in the lmotting and crimping mechanism, .the rotative position of the coil spring is determined, and then the coilspring is :clamped to the die by the slides and in this operation crimping .or ofisetting :may 'be' accomplished. That .end of the coil spring .is then knotted. When the linotting and crimping operation performed by the knotting and (crimping mechanismifi is accomplished, the gripping arm .of the transfer mechanism is pivoted back into the plane of rotation and the coil spring is advanced to a position in alignment with the crimping and knotting mechanism :14. The other end of the coil spring .is brought into engagement with the crimping and knotting mechanism 14 by pivoting the grippingaarm in the opposite direction out of the plane of rotation thereof and the 'knotting and/org.

crimping operation of that end of the coil spring is com-' pleted in the same fashion as such operations on the other end of the coil spring by the crimping and knotting mechanism After'said othervend has been crimpedand/or knotted, the gripping arm is pivoted back into the plane of rotation :and :the coil spring is carried around and presented to the stacking mechanism 15. The coil spring is thenireleasedinahe stacking mechanism 15 and is drawnv a each other by reason of the column constructions 26,152,

187 and 297 so that proper alignment between the mechanismsmay :be obtained. Also, the knotting mechanisms 13 and 14 may be moved inwardly or outwardly a limited amount and rotated about their axes so that they may properly receive coil springs presented to them by the transfer mechanism 12. 'Further, the positions of the radial gripping arms of the transfer mechanism may be adjusted in twoplanes to further "assure proper alignment and accurate operation. 7

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof will be come apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and therefore this invention is to 'be limited only by the scope of the appended claim and prior art;

I claim as my invention: f

In a machine for producing wire coil springs 'ha'ving aknotting mechanism including ahead, a die mounted"on the head for receiving one-end of a wire icoil springapplied thereto by a transfer mechanism-and having an annular shoulder engaged by the end'turn of thescoil-spring and a knotter accommodating opening, a plurality ofslides slidably mounted on the head on opposite sides of the die and slidable'toward the die for clampingthe coilspring against the die, a knotter movably, carried by th'e headand movabie toward the die into the knotteraccommodating opening thereof for Wrapping the end of the. wire about for pivotally advancing the stop finger 'towarda'nd contacting the fiat engaging surface thereof with the end of the Wire of the coil spring before the slides are moved to clamping position-for rotating the coil-spring to afprew determined rotative position withrespect to the dieyarid k otter for assuring'proper knotting, said movable knotter including a carriage pivotally mounted upon a fixed axis within the head, a slotted knotter gear rotatably carried by the carriage and movable into and out of the knotter accommodating opening of the die as the carriage is pivotally moved, an interconnected driving gear andidrive'n gear rotatablymounted upon an axis which is "fixedwith respect to the carriage, said driven gear meshing withithei. slotted knotter gear to rotate the latter as the driven-gear is rotated, an interconnected cam and segmental gear rotatably mounted upon a fixed axis in'the head and open atively connected tothe power operated means to :be driven bysaid-p'ower operated means, saidcam engaging the carriage to pivotally'move the carriage, and said neg mental gear intermittently meshing'with the driving gear to rotate the slotted knotter gear when the latter is moved by pivotal movement of the carriage ino thekriotter accommodating opening of the die to wrap the positioned endof the wire about the tioned coil spring.

i 3 :References Citedin the file o'fthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 979,099

Schweitzer Dec. 220, :1910 1,035,809 Nullmeyer et a1 Aug. 13 1912 1,287,931 Eyster Dec. 17, 1918. 1,867,128 Wunderlich July 12, 1932 1,909,499 Oldham May-1.6, 1933 1,930,329 Vinar Oct. 10, :1933 1,993,162 Gritz Mar. 5, .1935 2,141,588 Zimmerman Dec, 27, 1938 2,175,426 Blount et al Oct. 10, 1939 2,230,110 Gleason Jan/28, 1941 2,504,792 Barsanti Apr. .18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 250,496 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1926 and knotter for operating the same in' sequ'ence adjacent portion :of the posi- 

